TCA Sponsors Native American Lecture Tour in Turkey

Congressman Tom Cole of Oklahoma, the only Native American Representative in the US Congress, shows the Native American display in his office to co-chairs of the Congressional Turkish Caucus, Congressman Robert Wexler of Florida (left) and Congressman Ed Whitfield of Kentucky (right) after TCA President G. Lincoln McCurdy’s briefing on the Native American Lecture Tour to Turkey.

October 29, 2009 - As part of The Turkish Coalition of America’s ongoing efforts to expand educational exchanges between the United States and universities in Turkey, TCA is pleased to sponsor a Native American Lecture Tour in November. The tour coincides with the White House conference with the Native American Tribal Nations on November 5.

"For the last two years, TCA has been working with institutes of higher learning (including Tribal Colleges) in the US and universities throughout Turkey to establish scholarship opportunities, partnerships for academic exploration, and friendships between higher learning institutions," said G. Lincoln McCurdy, President of the TCA.

"We hope that these efforts will advance both educational and cultural understanding between our nations. TCA is proud to conduct this program with the support of the American Indian Higher Educational Consortium."

The tour will bring educators from Mandaree, Hopi, Isleta/San Juan Pueblo and Mohawk tribes from South Dakota State University, Northern Arizona University and Institute of American Indian Arts to 12 universities in four cities in Turkey and will conclude with a Native American Conference at Hacettepe University in Ankara.

Other participating Turkish universities include Ondokuz Mayis University in Samsun, Abant Izzet Baysal University in Bolu, Bahcesehir, Bogazici, Halic, Istanbul Technical University, Koc, Ozyegin and Sabanci University in Istanbul and Bilkent and Middle East Technical University in Ankara.

The tour aims to expose Turkish educators and students to different Native American cultures and customs. The tour will also explore opportunities to establish future collaboration between Tribal Colleges and other institutions with Native American programs in the US and institutions of higher education in Turkey.

TCA will be promoting its Study Abroad in Turkey Scholarship Program for American Minority Students during the tour. TCA awards up to 100 scholarships per year for eligible American minority students, including Native Americans, who have been accepted to a university in Turkey or in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

The Native American Conference, organized by the Department of American Culture and Literature at Hacettepe University, will last two days. The conference will explore topics of cultural survival through Native American literature and the arts.